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And the “big news” is the local team made its picks in the league’s draft in preparation for the short season this summer.
The Orange County Breakers chose Irvine resident Scott Lipsky and former UCLA standout Dennis Novikov in Friday’s World TeamTennis draft to complete their roster for the 2016 season.
Lipsky, chosen in the third round with the 17th overall pick, teamed with Australian Casey Dellacqua to win the 2011 French Open mixed doubles title. He is 43rd in the Association of Tennis Professionals men’s doubles rankings.
The 34-year-old Lipsky is coached by Breakers coach Rick Leach on the ATP World Tour.
The Breakers chose Novikov in the fourth and final round, the 23rd overall selection. The 22-year-old is 153rd on the ATP singles rankings and reached the quarterfinals of last week’s Jalisco Open in Guadalajara, Mexico.
The Breakers previously used their first-round choice to protect Nicole Gibbs and their second-round choice to protect Alla Kudryavtsvea, who both played for the team last year when it was based in Austin, Texas.
The Breakers traded their choice in the marquee players portion of the draft to the Washington Kastles today in exchange for undisclosed financial considerations.
The Breakers regular season will run from July 31 to Aug. 13, with the top two teams playing for the championship on Aug. 27 in the New York City area.
World TeamTennis matches consist of one set each of men’s and women’s singles, men’s and women’s doubles and mixed doubles, with the team winning the most games winning the match.
The league began play in 1974, with International Tennis Hall of Fame member Billie Jean King and former Buena Park Mayor Dennis Murphy among its co- founders. WTT suspended play following the 1978 season, then resumed play in 1981.
—City News Service